Two Week Post-Surgery Update

Two weeks out from Artificial Cervical Disc replacement surgery and I have to say, I think it was a success!

After a few rough days right after surgery dealing with pain meds (and my body's dislike for them!), it has been a relatively smooth ride. The toughest part for me is acknowledging that my body needs time to heal and taking it easy. I returned to work this week for two days, about four and 1/2 hours each day. Next week I'm going to give it three days, hopefully full time. We'll see how the body feels : )

After trying both Vicodin and Tylenol 3, I have decided that I am sensitive to pain relievers and they don't work for me. Both worked OK for a day or two, then other symptoms kicked in like nausea, vomiting, migraine and insomnia. Sounds fun, huh? So, I have had to reduce the doses and take anti-nausea medication to help cut the pain.

19 days post surgery I don't have a lot of pain anymore. So, I'm not taking anything other than muscle relaxers. Mostly just discomfort in my neck when I have been "vertical" too long. My throat feels "thick". The soft tissues around the surgery site getting swollen. Also, the muscles in my shoulder and lower neck still have residual tightness from the years of guarding my pain and that will take a while to loosen up. And, it was re-traumatized with the surgery. I'm on muscle relaxers for that, as well as ice and heat, and in a week if it isn't better, may have to do a course of steroids. I would love to really stretch this part of my body, but can't do that for another month. I have been walking pretty much every other day since one week out from surgery. Walked 4.8 miles on Thursday and even found a geocache! I must be back :)

My first walk. Out with my friends Buddy and Bear from the 14th floor.

I had my two week post surgery check up with the Physicians Assistant to my Surgeon, Zach Knight-King. I have been impressed with his thoroughness and the time he takes with me at each appointment. I don't feel rushed like you sometimes do at Dr.'s offices. Talked to him about my insomnia and we came up with a plan. Hopefully it works! I will start PT at six weeks post surgery and at that time I can start back to yoga and weight work. Boy, that will feel good! I don't have to wear my bandage over the incision anymore, but until the steri-strips (and accompanying dried blood) fall off, I will be the chic scarf lady. No one needs to see that. I was able to give him some feedback on their office procedures. On the days when the Dr. is in surgery, there is no one in the office to "triage" patient calls. So, when I was reacting to the pain meds two days after surgery, we waited about 5-6 hours for a call back from the Dr.'s office after three calls from Mark.  He said that they had visited that issue already and had a new plan in place. I am the first person to avoid conflict, or tell someone something "bad", so I felt good about letting my feelings be known : )

Thought I would read a lot more and watch a bunch of T.V. Didn't really do that, but did watch Season Two of Mad Men, and am now totally addicted. Thanks Guido! And, the highlight of my recovery, I did our taxes.

I have been so lucky in this past few weeks to have friends and family check in on me with visits, phone calls, FB messages, e-mails, and food delivery! It really made the time go buy quicker and I feel loved. Thank you.

The view back to the 'hood on my second walk. I love where I live. Those blackberry bushes are where I see my hummingbirds.